05/12/2011

K-pop's soft power ignites flashmob at the Louvre

This is indeed the main courtyard of the Louvre in Paris, but the hundreds of people didn't gather there for a new visual art exhibit -- these Parisians are actually K-pop fans who are rallying to demand the extension of performances for the sold out "SMTown Live World Tour in Paris."

These fans of Hallyu, or Korean pop culture, gathered as a flash mob just a few days ago with picket signs demanding extra performances for those unable to acquire tickets. Like typical music fans, many of them burst out into song and dance performances which were of course caught on camera:

Followers of K-pop must find it so interesting that Hallyu has been adopted in so many parts of the world! Despite the initial popularity of Japan's J-pop culture (and it's of course still popular -- perhaps just in a different way compared to K-pop's recent rabid international incline), it was actually Japan that embraced K-pop when it first was broadly exported overseas several years ago (and, quickly afterwards, Hong Kong, China, Thailand...).

I love how this K-pop flash mob gathered in the courtyard of the world's most famous museum! Such a scene truly indicates the cultural balancing that comes with globalization and cultural relations.

No wonder the South Korean government has recognized Hallyu as not only a way to "deeply touch people's hearts," but also as an international economic tool to help promote exports of Korean products. In anticipation for the G-20's Speakers Consultation next week, South Korea intends to use its soft power as an instrument for cultural diplomacy exchanges throughout the world.